Ejection device for a displaceable furniture component

ABSTRACT

An ejection device for a furniture component moveably housed in or against a furniture body. The ejection device includes a swivellably housed lever. A first castor is attached to a free end of the lever, and a second castor is attached to the lever at a distance from the free end.

This application is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No.11/705,416, filed Feb. 13, 2007, which is a continuation ofInternational Application No. PCT/AT2005/000227, filed Jun. 24, 2005,the entireties of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates in a first variant to an ejection devicefor a furniture component moveably housed in or against a furniturebody, with a swivellably housed lever, wherein a first castor isattached to the free end of the lever.

2. Description of the Related Art

U.S. Pat. No. 6,669,250 B1 discloses an ejection device for a furniturecomponent (door or drawer) moveably housed in or against a furniturebody, with a swivellably housed lever, wherein a castor is attached tothe free end of the lever.

EP 1 314 842 A1 discloses an ejection device for a furniture component(door or drawer) moveably housed in or against a furniture body, with aswivellably housed lever, wherein a castor is attached to the free endof the lever.

EP 1 374 732 A1 discloses an ejection device for a furniture component(drawer) moveably housed in or against a furniture body, with anelectric drive unit, a control or regulation apparatus to control orregulate the drive unit, and a gear mechanism to transmit power from thedrive unit to an ejector.

DE 29 24 145 A1 discloses an ejection device for an oven carriagemoveably housed in a domestic oven, with a swivellably housed lever(transport lever) and an electric drive unit (electric motor).

U.S. Pat. No. 4,720,154 A discloses an example embodiment of an ejectiondevice for a drawer moveably housed in a furniture body (cashdispenser), with a swivellably housed lever and an electric drive unit(electric motor) (See FIG. 10).

WO 2004/100718 A1 discloses an ejection device for a furniture component(door or drawer) moveably housed in or against a furniture body, with aswivellably housed lever, an electric drive unit, and a control orregulation apparatus to control or regulate the drive unit.

The problem with the above-described ejection devices is that in mostcases the initial acceleration of the movable furniture component towhich the force of the lever has been applied is extremely sluggish. Inorder to counter this problem, the drive unit provided for the lever isfrequently overdimensioned in order to have the capacity to achieve arapid initial acceleration of the movable furniture component via thelever. After the initial acceleration of the movable furniturecomponent, a much smaller drive capacity would be sufficient.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the invention is to create an ejection device which doesnot have the above-described problem.

This is achieved by a second castor which is attached to the lever at adistance from the free end of the lever.

Uniform loading of the drive unit for driving the lever over the entireejection distance is achieved by this feature of the invention. Theswivellably housed lever first comes into contact with the movablefurniture component via the second castor attached to the lever at adistance from the free end of the lever, whereby the torque exerted onthe movable furniture component is less than the torque exerted when thecastor attached to the free end of the lever first contacts thefurniture component. The drive unit, which may comprise an electricmotor, is thereby subjected to a smaller torque during the initialacceleration of the movable furniture component. The result of this is amore favorable starting behavior, which is perceived by the user as moreresponsive initial acceleration of the movable furniture component.

After the initial acceleration of the movable furniture component, thelever comes into contact with the movable furniture component via thefirst castor attached to the free end of the lever and can thus exert agreater force on the movable furniture component via the greater torque(due to the longer lever arm). As the inertia of the movable furniturecomponent has been overcome, the drive unit is now, in spite of thegreater torque, loaded to approximately the same extent as during theinitial acceleration phase. Therefore, the overall result is an equaldistribution of the load of the drive unit over the entire ejectiondistance of the movable furniture component.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the secondcastor is attached to the lever at approximately half way between thefree end and the other end of the lever. The result is a satisfactorydistribution of the load forces acting on the drive unit.

A further, second variant of the invention is an ejection device for afurniture component moveably housed in or against a furniture body, witha swivellably housed lever and a drive unit, in particular electric, todrive the lever.

Typically, the operation of such ejection devices generates unpleasantnoise. In addition to the initial sound of the impact when theswivellably housed lever comes into contact with the movable furniturecomponent, further operation of the ejection device also generatesunpleasant noise.

The object of this variant of the invention is to create a genericejection device which is characterized by the generation of less noise.

This is achieved by a lever having at least a first lever part and asecond lever part, wherein the first lever part can be brought intocontact with the movable furniture component and the second lever partcan be driven by the drive unit. The first lever part is coupled,movable to a limited extent, to the second lever part, and an energyaccumulator acts between the first lever part and the second lever partsuch that the first lever part is pre-loaded relative to the secondlever part.

The two-part design of the lever results in interaction between thefirst and the second lever part. By pre-loading the first lever partrelative to the second lever part, the first lever part is pressedagainst the movable furniture component. The second lever part is forcedaway from the first lever part by the force of the energy accumulator.As a result, the parts of the drive unit in contact with the secondlever part are also subjected to stress. Surprisingly, this leads to areduction of the operating noise of the ejection device.

In an advantageous embodiment of this variant of the invention, thefirst lever part is pre-loaded relative to the second lever part by aspring. This represents a particularly simple structural realization ofthis variant of the invention.

A further, third variant of the invention is an ejection device for afurniture component moveably housed in or against a furniture body, witha swivellably housed lever to eject the movable furniture component, adrive unit, in particular electric, to drive the lever, and a control orregulation apparatus to control or regulate the drive unit.

With such ejection devices the problem arises of how the user can bestactuate the ejector. In this regard, it is advantageous if the ejectiondevice can be operated as intuitively as possible.

The object of this variant is, therefore, to create an ejection devicewhich can be actuated intuitively.

This is achieved by a switch for the actuation of the ejection device.The switch is attached to, or in the lever, such that the signals fromthe switch can be fed at least to the control or regulation apparatus.

This feature of the invention permits the ejection device to be actuatedby pressing the front panel of the movable furniture component into thefurniture body. For this, sufficient interaction must of course remainwhen the movable furniture component is in closed position. As soon asthe movable furniture component comes into contact with the switchattached to the lever, the switch sends the actuation signal to thecontrol or regulation apparatus of the ejection device.

A particular advantage results when this variant is combined with thesecond variant of the invention. If the lever has at least a first and asecond lever part, the switch can have at least two contacts, whereinthe first contact is attached to the first lever part and the secondcontact is attached to the second lever part.

By pressing the movable furniture component into the furniture body, thefirst lever part resting against the movable furniture component ispushed in the direction of the second lever part, whereby the twocontacts touch and close the circuit.

An energy accumulator is preferably arranged between the two lever partsto generate an initial stress.

Alternatively, the switch may comprise a push switch which is preferablyattached to the free end of the lever. A two-part design of the levercan be dispensed with in this embodiment.

A further, fourth variant of the invention is an ejection device for afurniture component moveably housed in or against a furniture body, withan ejector to eject the movable furniture component, a drive unit,electric in particular, a gear mechanism to transmit power from thedrive unit to the ejector, and a control or regulation apparatus tocontrol or regulate the drive unit.

In such ejection devices it is frequently desirable to know the positionof the ejector, in order to, for example, be able to configure theejection profile according to the position. Accordingly, actuation ofthe ejection device can occur during an initial displacement caused by auser of the movable furniture component and the ejector.

It is therefore the object of this variant of the invention to create anejection device in which the position of the ejector can be established.

This is achieved by providing the ejection device with a potentiometer,wherein the signals from the potentiometer can be fed at least to thecontrol or regulation apparatus, and the actuator of the potentiometeris coupled to the gear mechanism.

Compared with other path-measuring devices, all potentiometers have theadvantage that they measure the position of the ejector in absoluteterms, hence there is no need to initialize the path-measuring device.

If the ejector comprises a lever, it is particularly advantageous if thedrive of the gear mechanism is formed in one piece with the lever.

In this case, the actuator of the potentiometer can be directly coupledwith the lever. This has among other things the advantage that, if thegear mechanism comprises a slipping clutch, the position of the levercan be correctly determined in spite of the lever slipping through.

In particular, in the case of a swivellably housed lever, in order toavoid a change of movement, it is particularly advantageous if thepotentiometer is a rotary potentiometer.

A further, fifth variant of the invention is an ejection device for afurniture component moveably housed in or against a furniture body, withan ejector to eject the movable furniture component, an electric driveunit, and a gear mechanism to transmit power from the drive unit to theejector.

Such ejection devices are problematic because the gear mechanism isfrequently damaged as a result of misuse of the ejection device. Forexample, a user wishing to close an ejected movable furniture componentoften pushes the movable furniture component with considerable force, inthe direction of the furniture body. If the movable furniture componentstrikes the ejector of the ejection device, this force is transmitted tothe gear mechanism of the ejection device, which can lead to destructionof the gear mechanism in the worst case.

The object of the invention is therefore to create an ejection devicewhich does not have the above-described problem.

This is achieved by providing the gear mechanism with a slipping clutch.

If the force transmitted by the ejector onto the gear mechanism exceedsa limit value governed by the structure of the slipping clutch, the gearmechanism coupled to the slipping clutch will slip through, whichprevents damage to the gear mechanism.

The present invention also relates to an item of furniture with amovable furniture component, in particular drawer or door, with anejection device according to one of the previously mentioned variants ofthe invention.

A path-measuring device can be attached to or in the item of furnitureto actuate the ejection device.

In order to allow the simplest possible incorporation into an item offurniture according to the invention, it is particularly advantageous ifthe path-measuring device is attached to or in the ejection device.

However, the path-measuring device can also be attached to or in thefurniture body.

A possible embodiment of the invention which is characterized by itssimplicity includes a path-measuring device comprising a pusher to whichpressure can be applied by the movable furniture component.

If the ejection device is to be actuated by a pulling force applied tothe movable furniture component by the user, it can be advantageous toprovide the path-measuring device with a drive carrier which can becoupled with the movable furniture component.

The path-measuring device can be formed both as an absolute measuringdevice and as an incremental measuring device.

In the first case, the path-measuring device can, for example, comprisea potentiometer. In the second case, the path-measuring device can, forexample, comprise an encoder.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further features and advantages of the invention will be seen from thefollowing description and the accompanying figures, in which:

FIGS. 1 to 3 show a first embodiment of the invention in top view and inperspective view, for different positions of the lever of the ejectiondevice;

FIGS. 4 to 5 show a second embodiment of the invention, in variousviews;

FIGS. 6 a to 6 d show a third embodiment the invention, in variousviews;

FIGS. 7 a to 7 d show a further variant of the third embodiment of theinvention;

FIGS. 8 to 9 show a fourth embodiment of the invention, in differentviews;

FIGS. 10 to 11 show a fifth embodiment of the invention, in differentviews;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a further embodiment of an ejectiondevice according to the invention;

FIG. 13 is an exploded view of the ejection device shown in FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is an exploded, perspective view of some components of theejection device illustrated in FIG. 13;

FIGS. 15 a to 15 c are cross-sections of a further embodiment of anejection device according to the invention;

FIG. 16 is an exploded view of the ejection device illustrated in FIG.15;

FIG. 17 is an exploded view of a further embodiment of an ejectiondevice according to the invention;

FIGS. 18 a to 18 d show an embodiment of an item of furniture accordingto the invention;

FIGS. 19 a to 19 c show an embodiment of a path-measuring device in twoperspective views and in exploded view;

FIGS. 20 a to 20 c are perspective views of a further embodiment of anejection device according to the invention; and

FIGS. 21 a to 21 c are top views of the ejection device illustrated inFIGS. 20 a to 20 c.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 a is a top view of a first embodiment of an ejection device 8according to the invention which is attached to a furniture body 3 via abearing rail 19. The ejection device 8 has a swivellably housed lever 4,wherein a first castor 10 is attached to the free end of the lever 9(“free lever end”), and a second roller 11 is attached approximatelyhalf-way between the articulation point of the lever 4 and the freelever end 9. In the position represented in FIG. 1 a, the movablefurniture component 2, of which only the rear panel is represented here,is in its closed position in the furniture body 3, as a result of whichthe lever 4 lies with the second castor 11 against the movable furniturecomponent 2.

FIG. 1 b shows a perspective view of the ejection device 8, whereintothe movable furniture component 2 has not been illustrated for greaterclarity.

In FIG. 2 a, the movable furniture component has already been moved bythe lever 4 so far from its closed position in the furniture body 3 thatnow the first castor 10 attached to the free lever end 9 also comes intocontact with the movable furniture component 2.

FIG. 2 b is a perspective view of the ejection device 8 in thisposition.

FIGS. 3 a and 3 b show the situation shortly before the movablefurniture component 2 moves completely away from the lever 4. Lever 4 isnow in contact with the movable furniture component 2 via the firstcastor 10 attached to the free lever end 9, while the second castor 11is no longer in contact with the movable furniture component 2.

FIGS. 4 a and 4 b show a lever according to the invention 4 whichconsists of a first lever part 20 and a second lever part 21. The secondlever part 21 is formed in one piece with the drive 17 of a gearmechanism 13, not illustrated in FIG. 4. A first castor 10 for applyinga load on a movable furniture component 2, not illustrated in FIG. 4, isprovided at the free lever end 9 against the first lever part 20.Furthermore, the second castor 11 is arranged approximately in themiddle of the lever 4. Arranged between the first lever part 20 and thesecond lever part 21 is a spring 18 which rests with one end 36 againstthe second lever part 21 and with its other end 37 against the firstlever part 20. The first lever part 20 is thereby pre-loaded in relationto the second lever part 21. In this example embodiment, a drive wheel22 is formed against the first lever part 20 for a potentiometer 15, notillustrated in FIG. 4, for determining the position of the lever 4.

FIG. 5 c shows the respective positions of the first lever part 20 andthe second lever part 21 when the movable furniture component 2, notillustrated in FIG. 5, is in its closed position. The castor 10 liesagainst the rear panel of the movable furniture component 2. In FIG. 5a, the second lever part 21 is driven via the drive 22 of a gearmechanism 13 not illustrated in FIG. 5 in order to eject the movablefurniture component 2. The first lever part 20 thereby lies against thesecond lever part 21. The spring 18 supports the ejection process of themovable furniture component 2. FIGS. 5 b and 5 d are perspective viewsof FIGS. 5 a and 5 c.

FIGS. 6 a to 6 d show a first embodiment of the third variant of theinvention which includes a switch 7 attached to the lever 4. As in theaforementioned embodiment, the lever 4 has a first lever part 20 for theapplication of force to a movable furniture component 2 not illustratedin FIG. 6, and a second lever part 21 which is connected to a drive unit5, likewise not represented. A spring 25 is arranged between the twolever parts 20, 21. A castor 10 is attached to the first lever part 20.The switch 7 comprises a first contact 27 attached to the first leverpart 20 and a second contact 26 attached to the second lever part 21. Inthe positions illustrated in FIGS. 6 c and 6 d, the two contacts 26, 27are separated. This corresponds to the inactive position of the switch7. A user, not illustrated, moves the furniture component 2, also notillustrated, in the direction of closure, i.e. into the furniture body3, also not illustrated. The first lever part 20 is thereby movedagainst the application of force of the spring 25. The two contacts 26,27 thereby come into contact, which completes an electrical circuit,which is not illustrated in detail, for clarity, whereby an actuationsignal is relayed to the drive unit 5 over the lines 24.

FIGS. 7 a to 7 d show a second embodiment of the third variant of theinvention, in which the lever 4 is formed in one piece. In thisembodiment, the switch 7 is formed as a push switch attached to the freelever end 9.

FIGS. 8 a to 8 c show different embodiments of the fourth variant of theinvention. A gear mechanism 13 which serves to transmit power from theelectric motor 29 to the second lever part 21 is shown. Power istransmitted, via a spindle 35, which cannot be seen in FIG. 8 (but canbe seen in FIGS. 9 a and 9 b), the toothed wheel 31, the further toothedwheel 33, and the drive 17 of the gear mechanism, which in thisembodiment is formed in one piece with the second lever part 21.According to the invention, in each of FIGS. 8 a to 8 c, a potentiometer15 (here, a rotary potentiometer) is connected to the gear mechanism 13.The potentiometer 15 has three contacts 30 for connecting or tappingelectrical current. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 8 a, thepotentiometer 15 is connected to the middle stage of the gear mechanism13 via a common axle. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 8 b, thepotentiometer 15 is connected to the toothed wheel 31. In theparticularly preferred embodiment of FIG. 8 c, the potentiometer 15 isconnected to the second lever part 21.

FIGS. 9 a to 9 c show alternative views of the embodiments illustratedin FIGS. 8 a to 8 c.

FIGS. 10 a to 10 f show an embodiment of the fifth variant of theinvention. FIG. 10 a is a side view of a part of a gear mechanism 13which comprises a slipping clutch 14. In this embodiment, the slippingclutch 14 consists of a spring washer 41 which broadens whendisproportionately loaded and slides over the driving dogs 42. Thisprocess is illustrated in FIGS. 10 d to 10 f. FIGS. 10 g to 10 i showthis process in detail. FIG. 10 b is a perspective view of part of gearmechanism 13.

The structure of the of the gear mechanism 13 shown in FIGS. 10 a to 10i can be seen more clearly in the exploded view of FIG. 11 b. Thetoothed wheel 33, the further toothed wheel 32, which is connected inrotation-resistant manner to the spring washer 40, and the driving dogs42 are arranged on a common pin 23. The driving dogs 42 are fittedconjugately onto the part of the toothed wheel 33 formed as a bolt 43.FIG. 11 a is a perspective view of the complete gear mechanism 13, whichis driven by an electric motor 29 and in turn drives the second leverpart 21.

FIG. 12 shows the ejection device 8 illustrated in FIG. 11 attached to abearing rail 19. The first lever part 20 and a portion of the casing areshown.

FIG. 13 is a further exploded representation of the ejection device 8illustrated in FIGS. 11 a and 12, wherein all of the casing of theejection device 8 can be seen. Furthermore, the arrangement of thepotentiometer 15 directly on a plate 44, which houses all the circuitsof the ejection device 8, can be seen in FIG. 13. The potentiometer 15is connected to the gear mechanism 13 via the drive 22 and measures theposition of the lever 4. FIG. 14 is a further exploded representation ofthe drive mechanism of the ejection device 8.

A further embodiment of an ejection device 8 according to the inventionis illustrated in FIGS. 15 a to 15 c. This embodiment is characterizedin particular by a path-measuring device 38. The path-measuring device38 has a spring-loaded pusher 39 which can be subjected to pressure by amovable furniture component 2, not shown. In FIG. 15 a, the pusher 39has been pushed into the housing of the ejection device 8 by the movablefurniture component 2, which triggers the ejection process. Thestructure of this ejection device is more clearly shown in FIG. 16,which is an exploded view.

FIG. 17 is an exploded view of a further embodiment of an ejectiondevice 8 according to the invention, which differs from the embodimentillustrated in FIG. 13 only in that one fewer gear mechanism stage isprovided.

An item of furniture 1 is shown in FIGS. 18 a to 18 d. The item offurniture includes a movable furniture component 2 formed as a drawer. Apath-measuring device 38 attached to the furniture body 3 whichcomprises an encoder 45 can be seen. Force can be applied to a pusher 39by the back of the movable furniture component 2. In the positionillustrated in FIG. 18 a, the pusher 39 is pushed in by the movablefurniture component 2 which is in its closed position. When a user movesthe movable furniture component 2 slightly out of its closed position,the spring-impacted pusher 39 moves outward, and the movement isrecorded by the encoder 45. The path-measuring device 38 then issues toan ejection device 8, not illustrated in FIG. 18, a command to eject themovable furniture component 2.

The path-measuring device 38 shown in FIG. 18 is shown in detail inFIGS. 19 a to 19 c. As shown, the pusher 39 is formed as a toothed rack46, which engages a pinion 48 connected to the disk 47 of the encoder45. A spring-loaded stop 49 which enables path measurement when themovable furniture component 2 is in its closed position, and pressed inthe direction of the furniture body 3 by the user for actuation.

A further embodiment of an ejection device according to the invention 8is illustrated in FIGS. 20 a to 20 c. This embodiment is characterizedby a potentiometer 15 attached to the furniture body 3. The actuator 16of the potentiometer 15 is connected to the back of a movable furniturecomponent 2 via a drive carrier 28. The movement of the movablefurniture component 2 out of its closed position drives the actuator 26of the potentiometer 15 via the drive carriers 28, whereupon thepotentiometer 15 orders the ejection of the movable furniture component2 by the ejection device 8. This process is illustrated in FIGS. 21 a to21 c in a top view.

1. Ejection device for a furniture component housed movable in oragainst a furniture body, with a swivellably housed lever, wherein afirst castor is attached to the free lever end, and wherein a secondcastor is attached to the lever at a distance from the free lever end.2. Ejection device according to claim 1, wherein the second castor isattached to the lever at a distance of approximately half the length ofone lever from the free lever end. 3-6. (canceled)
 7. Ejection devicefor a furniture component housed movable in or against a furniture bodywith a swivellably housed lever to eject the movable furniturecomponent, an electric drive unit to drive the lever and a control orregulation apparatus to control or regulate the drive unit, wherein aswitch for the actuation of the ejection device is attached to or in thelever, wherein the signals from the switch can be fed at least to thecontrol or regulation apparatus.
 8. Ejection device according to claim7, wherein the switch has at least two contacts, wherein the firstcontact is attached to the first lever part and the second contact tothe second lever part.
 9. Ejection device according to claim 7, whereinthe switch comprises a push switch.
 10. Ejection device according toclaim 9, wherein the push switch is attached to the free lever end. 11.Ejection device for a furniture component housed movable in or against afurniture body with an ejector to eject the movable furniture component,an electric drive unit, a gear mechanism to transmit power from thedrive unit to the ejector and a control or regulation apparatus tocontrol or regulate the drive unit, wherein the ejection devicecomprises a potentiometer, wherein the signals from the potentiometercan be fed at least to the control or regulation apparatus, and theactuator of the potentiometer is coupled to the gear mechanism. 12.Ejection device according to claim 11, wherein the ejector comprises alever.
 13. Ejection device according to claim 12, wherein the drive ofthe gear mechanism is formed in one piece with the lever.
 14. Ejectiondevice according to claim 13, wherein the actuator of the potentiometeris coupled with the lever.
 15. Ejection device according to claim 11,wherein the inner pipe is formed as a rotary potentiometer.
 16. Ejectiondevice for a furniture component housed movable in or against afurniture body with an ejector to eject the movable furniture component,an electric drive unit, and a gear mechanism to transmit power from thedrive unit to the ejector, wherein the gear mechanism comprises aslipping clutch.
 17. Item of furniture with a movable furniturecomponent, where there is provided an ejection device according toclaim
 1. 18. Item of furniture according to claim 17, wherein a pathmeasuring device is attached to or in the item of furniture and theejection device can be actuated by the path measuring device.
 19. Itemof furniture according to claim 18, wherein the path measuring device isattached to or in the ejection device.
 20. Item of furniture accordingto claim 18, wherein the path measuring device is attached to or in thefurniture body.
 21. Item of furniture according to claim 18, wherein thepath measuring device comprises a pusher to which pressure can beapplied by the movable furniture component.
 22. Item of furnitureaccording to claim 18, wherein the path measuring device has a drivecarrier which can be coupled with the movable furniture component. 23.Item of furniture according to claim 18, wherein the path measuringdevice comprises an encoder.
 24. Item of furniture according to claim18, wherein the path measuring device comprises a potentiometer. 25.Item of furniture according to claim 18, wherein the path-measuringdevice has a spring-loaded stop which enables the path to be measuredwhen a movable furniture component is in its closed end-position.